Knicks fall to Burlington 34-22 in NERFU D semi-final

Worcester, MA

November 10, 2012

Albany 22 - Burlington 34

The Albany Knicks fell to Burlington 34-22 in the NERFU D2 semi-final.  Heading into the match Burlington was 7-0; going undefeated in the regular season.  Albany was at 5-2.  The two losses coming at the hands of Worcester and Portland.  Those two teams faced off in the earlier semifinal; with Worcester pulling out the win.  Albany got off to a shaky start when just four minutes into the game miscommunication at the back of the scrum 10m from the Knicks try line led to a loose ball that Burlington gathered for an easy score.  The try went unconverted and Albany was down 5-0 in the blink of an eye.  Burlington scored another unconverted try 5 minutes later.  The Knicks finally got some possession and through sustained pressure down in the Burlington half won a shot at goal.  Captain Tom Breslin landed the kick and with 27 minutes gone the score was 10-3 to Burlington.  Both teams failed to find points for the remainder of the half.  After a passionate halftime speech Albany came out more determined and started getting on the front foot.  Three minutes in left wing Bergen raced in from 40m out and Breslin converted to level the score at 10-10.  Burlington then answered with a converted try of their own 13 minutes later.  Albany then leveled the score again at 17-17 when openside Cody Morton scored and Breslin converted with 16 minutes to go.  Albany claimed the lead 4 minutes later when outside center Murphy Lill side-stepped several defenders to dot down.  The conversion attempt was no good but with 12 minutes to go Albany had a 5 point lead.  The men in green came right back and at the 33 minute mark scored a converted try under the posts to go up by two.  Albany looked poised to win the game at the death but a turnover and subsequent yellow card at three minutes from full time proved costly.  Burlington capitalized on the man-up advantage and with 2 minutes to go scored another try.  The kick was no good but Albany was down by 7 with the final whistle looming.  The Knicks had to pull out a converted try but another turnover in extra time saw Burlington put the nail in the coffin.  Final score 34-22.  With the Albany pack under heavy pressure in the scrums good ball was hard to find; but eight man Brandon Bailey was effective with his picks and made several strong runs that keep Burlington on the back foot.  Bailey was named Man of the Match. 

Roster
1.  Jeff Hensel
2. Sean Bayliss
3. Jeff Cosgrove
4. Max Schuler
5. Nate Murphy
6. Frank Adams
7. Cody Morton
8. Brandon Bailey
9. Cono Cirone
10. David O”Neill
11. Tom Breslin (captain)
12. Sean Mertz
13. Murphy Lill
14. Scottie Bergen
15. Todd Martin
16. Phil Ayoreh (on at 40’ for Cirone)
17. Charles Colley
18. Eric O’Bryan (on at 55’ for Murphy)
19. Nick St. John (on at 64’ for Bayliss)
20. Steve Roy (on at 50’ for Cosgrove)
21. Robert Grimm (on at 73’ for Roy)

22. Steve Arango